Chapter 119 He Took the Bait

Su Xiaonuan had just seen off her first customer when she turned around and found that a short but orderly queue had quietly formed in front of her stall!

The queue included men, women, young and old, all craning their necks and staring intently at the lamb leg on the oven, which was spinning, dripping with oil, and emitting a deadly aroma, as well as the "living advertisement" that An Ran and Lu Zheng had not yet finished eating in front of them.

This was undoubtedly because they were attracted by the strong aroma and the satisfied expression on the first customer's face!

"Boss! How much is this lamb leg? Give me half a pound!"

"I want a pound! And lots of chili powder!"

"It smells so good... but I don't know if it's gamey? I can't stand the gamey smell of mutton."

"Hey! I love that gamey smell! The gameier, the better! Boss, do you have any with a stronger gamey smell?"

The customers asked a barrage of questions, and their demands were quite polarized.

Some people can't stand the smell of mutton, while others just love that unique "muttony" flavor.

Faced with this somewhat "tricky" request, Su Xiaonuan remained calm and composed, her face still bearing a sweet and serene smile.

"Don't worry, everyone! Our lamb is made from carefully selected grassland lambs, which are tender and have a very mild gamey flavor."

While deftly cutting meat for the first customer in line, she explained in a clear voice, "Through our unique processing and spice marinating and roasting, basically only the fresh aroma of the lamb remains. If you particularly like the traditional flavor, you can try our cuts closer to the bone with a bit of fat; that part will be richer in fat and more flavorful after roasting. If you can't stand any gamey smell at all, I suggest you choose lean leg meat; it has a firm texture, is juicy, and is guaranteed to be fragrant without any gamey taste!"

As she spoke, she deftly sliced ​​off pieces of lamb, each one evenly thick and thin, lean or fatty, weighed them, and then, according to the customer's request, sprinkled them with a special, fragrant but not overpowering chili powder, or packed them into a lunchbox in their original flavor.

The movements were fluid and graceful, carrying a reassuring skill.

With top-quality ingredients enhanced by the system and her god-like culinary skills, the heat was perfectly controlled, and the lamb leg was roasted until the skin was crispy and fragrant, as if it were covered with a layer of golden carapace. When you cut into it with a knife, you could hear a clear "crack" sound.

The lamb inside, however, retains a perfect pink color, is extremely tender, and is full of juice. With a gentle squeeze, the scalding hot juice overflows, mixed with the aroma of rosemary, garlic, and black pepper, filling the nostrils.

Whether you're a fan of extremely fresh and tender ingredients without any gamey smell, or a lover of strong flavors, you can find satisfaction here.

The customers in line looked at her confident and composed demeanor, and at the box of roasted lamb leg that was handed to them, which looked delicious and was still sizzling slightly. All their doubts vanished, leaving only anticipation.

For a moment, the only sounds in front of the stalls were the clatter of meat being chopped, the hum of the grill, and the satisfied chewing and exclamations of diners, all mixed with the enticing aroma of roasted meat, creating the most vivid and comforting scene of everyday life at this bustling street corner.

Lu Zheng remained seated on his small stool, his gaze sweeping over the orderly queue and the radiant smile of Su Xiaonuan. A faint hint of gentleness, unnoticed even by himself, softened his usually stern brows.

Su Xiaonuan's stall is still thriving.

The aroma of roasted lamb leg is like the brightest lighthouse in the night, attracting a constant stream of diners.

The golden, crispy crust sizzles under the heat of the oven, and hot oil droplets fall into the charcoal fire, sparking small clusters of sparks and releasing an even richer, more intense aroma.

Holding a long knife, Su Xiaonuan sliced ​​the mutton with precise and elegant movements. Each slice was of uniform thickness, with just the right amount of fat and lean meat and a crispy edge. After placing it in a lunchbox, she would sprinkle it with special chili powder or cumin powder according to the guests' preferences. When she handed it out, she always received a satisfied sigh.

An Ran was busy packing and collecting money, and she was sweating profusely.

Lu Zheng, like a silent guardian, remained seated on his small stool, his gaze seemingly casual but actually scanning his surroundings with vigilance.

Nighttime is a time when filth and grime hide, and it is also the time when "rats" come out of their holes to forage for food.

The goal Su Xiaonuan had been waiting for had finally appeared.

He was a man who looked to be in his thirties, wearing an inconspicuous gray jacket, with a slightly hunched posture and shifty eyes.

He strolled leisurely along the food street, glancing at the stalls selling spicy hot pot, stinky tofu, and teppanyaki, his face showing a lack of interest and even some annoyance, as if nothing could whet his appetite.

While busy with her work, Su Xiaonuan kept a close eye on him out of the corner of her eye.

The system's red arrow clearly marked the man in the field of vision, with a sin value of 50, moving like an ominous shadow in the crowd.

Soon, the man's steps suddenly stopped, as if pulled by an invisible force. He turned his head toward Su Xiaonuan's stall and involuntarily sniffed.

The intense, overpowering aroma of roasted meat in the air seemed to precisely strike his empty stomach and weary nerves.

Su Xiaonuan made up her mind.

In her view, the task was already half completed.

No one can resist the temptation of delicious food under the system's blessing, especially these "red-named" targets who have something on their minds and are in dire need of comfort.

Sure enough, the man hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately couldn't resist the allure of the fragrance and dragged himself over.

He stood in front of the stall, looking at the sizzling, oily leg of lamb rotating on the oven. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Boss, how much is this roasted lamb leg?"

Su Xiaonuan raised her oily little face, revealing an incredibly well-behaved and innocent smile, and replied in a soft voice, "Hello, roasted lamb leg is priced by weight, 120 yuan per jin (500g)."

She deliberately quoted a price higher than the actual selling price.

Upon hearing this, the man immediately frowned, his face showing obvious hesitation and embarrassment.

He touched his somewhat empty pockets, his eyes darting back and forth between the lamb leg and Su Xiaonuan. Clearly, the price was a bit too much for him; he probably really didn't have much money left.

Su Xiaonuan took in his reaction without showing any emotion.

She picked up a small fan from the side and pretended to fan her cheeks, which were hot from being near the oven. In reality, she subtly adjusted the angle of her wrist, gently fanning the hot air, which was mixed with the aroma of caramel, meat, and spices, towards the man.

The aroma seemed to transform into a tangible hook, penetrating the man's nostrils more directly and intensely, stimulating his hungry stomach and fragile will.